Re: [virtio] [PATCH] virtio-net subcommittee proposal

[Cornelia Huck <cohuck@redhat.com>]

On Fri, Mar 31 2023, Parav Pandit <parav@nvidia.com> wrote:

> Modern applications demand low latency and high-performance
> networking devices at scale. Modernizing virtio networking devices
> involves developing many complex features. While the current methodology
> for developing the specification has worked well, there is an
> opportunity for better collaboration to support the complex scope of modernization.
>
> Many hardware vendors and cloud providers have expressed interest in such virtio enhancements.
> Hence, we propose to have a virtio net subcommittee.
>
> Subcommittee mission: Produce backward compatible, low latency, scalable virtio net device spec which works well on hardware NIC and enables efficient use of CPU and memory.
>
> Top objectives of the subcommittee (statement of purpose):
> 1. Chartered to develop the improved virtio-net device
> (features, scale, performance) which adapts to ubiquitous PCIe + PCIe virtualization

So this is about virtio-net-pci rather than virtio-net?

Is anyone interested in mmio/ccw involved? Would some hypothetical
ccw-originating virtio-net feature align with the charter?

> 2. Equal footing - not tied to an existing vendorâs HW implementation.
> The result is a backward-compatible but functionally upgraded virtio-net 2.0.
> 3. Operates under virtio TC and integrate the work with master virtio specification
> 4. Discuss and resolve technical issues & brainstorm on ideas and their tradeoff for near + long term
> 5. Borrows best practices for workgroup progress such as NVMe, and PCI-SIG.
>
> Subcommittee functions:
> 0. Consults virtio tc, feed and use master virtio specification for
>    the standard functionality across devices when applicable
> 2. Continue to use OASIS open forums for spec development and reviews
> 3. Have virtual technical meet weekly or bi-weekly
> 4. Prioritize features design & reviews to have predictable outcomes
> 5. Converge promptly and use voting as necessary
> 6. A helping arm of virtio TC for virtio net device changes
> 7. Listens to feedback from other industry forums and standards for next gen updates
> 8. Governed by simple 4 phase review
>    a. usecase/problem agreement,
>    b. functionality/design reviews,
>    c. spec change reviews by subcommittee
>    d. submit to virtio tc for final review and vote using existing ballot
> 9. Follows OASIS guidance [1]
>
> Spec wide bug fixes, cleanup etc continues as is.
>
> Everyone is welcome to join virtio net subcommittee who wish to
> contribute to above mission and purpose.
>
> [1] https://www.oasis-open.org/policies-guidelines/tc-process-2017-05-26/#subcommittees
>
> Signed-off-by: David Edmondson <david.edmondson@oracle.com>
> Signed-off-by: Dust Li <dust.li@linux.alibaba.com>
> Signed-off-by: Parav Pandit <parav@nvidia.com>
> Signed-off-by: Satananda Burla<sburla@marvell.com>
> Signed-off-by: Shahaf Shuler <shahafs@nvidia.com>
> Signed-off-by: Xuan Zhuo <xuanzhuo@linux.alibaba.com>